It has recently come to my attention that even a seemingly positive, yet false, worldview (life is fair),  can have very negative repercussions. 

Case in view:

( on witnesses to violent crimes)

"Another reason that bystanders might be reluctant to intervene concerns their tendency to blame victims for their own suffering.  In large part, this tendency reflects a belief in a just world (Lerner, miller & Holmes, 1976), a world where good things happen to good people, and bad things happen to bad people.  When bad things happen to good people, individuals are likely to feel uncomfortable because that result is inconsistent with the notion that the world is fair.  This inconsistency is upsetting because it suggests that bad things could randomly and arbitrarily happen to them.  Such a possibility is disturbing, and they are more likely to believe that the victim must have deserved to be victimized.  That being the case, bystanders to crimes might not intervene because of their belief in a just world as well as a fear that intervening might be too costly."

Page 64 "Social and pyschological consequences of Violent Victimization" by Barry Ruback and Martie P. Thompson

This sort of thing not only does damage to others during crimes, but also for those undergoing perpetual abuse, trauma, or even a longterm injury or medical problem. 

This happens in the christian world, only with verses that seem to support it.  Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.") Hearing this a christian may presuppose the eventuality of a release (in this world) from the harm, the "bad thing", or that at the very least that they will become inspired somehow, better than they were before.  This is not always true. 

In the old testament, Tamar (daughter of David) was raped by her half brother.  She spent the remaining years of her life deslote in her other brother, Absolom's, household. 

John the Baptist was thrown into prison while Jesus was free to do something about it.  John was confused, he sent some of his disciples to ask Jesus if in fact he was the Christ.  Within the hour, Jesus healed the sick, caused the blind to see, the lame to walk, cast out demons... and said, "Go tell John what you've seen".  He did not say, "Ooops.  Yeah, I'm the messiah, I just forgot about John.  Be right there to get him out of prison, I was busy with all this.".

Result?  John's short prison life ended with a decapitation.  It is not beneficial to make that pretty.

Jesus himself was beaten, mocked, whipped, tormented, and died on a cross.  He was resurrected, but thanks to that, so shall we be, someday.

1 Peter 4:12-16
"Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.  But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.  If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.  If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.  However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name."
and verse 19
"So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good."

How does that work to good to those who love God and are the called?  Change your view.   Look to God, not the cares of this world.

Voice of the Martyrs has a Tshirt that says,"This Shirt is illegal in 51 Countries" and in the back has Romans 1:16 (For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ...)

On my nation's  Independance day, I found myself thinking once again of  our brothers and sisters in other countries who are suffering for their love of God.

This is not a "Oh, look how good we have it here" statement. We all walk our own walk, and we will all be persecuted eventually if we stand by our Lord, but what a blessing to be able to read our bibles without having to hide them, to meet in our churches without fear of being arrested, to share what God has done in our lives with strangers without fear of being arrested... and to be able to live under the "Tell others about Jesus, use words if necessary". How cute that sounds, and how (sort of) true, but if we lived in a country where people could get arrested for *asking* the wrong person about Jesus, think silent witness is an option? Wouldn't it be horrible to not be able to tell a friend the thing God just did in your life? To ask for prayer? To not have access to a bible?

Please enjoy it while it's there, praise God for it, and while you're at it, if you feel you should, then help. Live it up every minute you can praise God without fear, every second you can read your bible. It is a joy, please look at it as such.

Hebrews 10:22
let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

My profile picture is of "Sam" the ugliest dog in the world. http://samugliestdog.com/

I use this as my profile picture at myspace, too (same explanation).

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When Sam had to be put out of his first home, the shelters told the previous owner, "with his age, looks, and personality he would be impossible to place". Susie found him adorable. She took him in, loved him, quirks, looks, and all.

This is quoted from Susie (Sam's discoverer/owner) an interview (taken from lovetoknow.com):

"SAM had an extraordinarily cranky side, even to me, if I touched his leg. His leg was OFF LIMITS!! That is where his imaginary friend lived. Whenever you gave SAM a treat, he would keep checking his back leg (which kept getting closer and closer to the treat) and then he would attack! He would spin in circles like a whirling dervish making sure that the "friend" in his leg would NOT get his treat! All you had to do to get a photo of SAM, like the famous ones, was to barely touch his leg.

SAM was also the biggest drama queen, or king actually! One time he came running into the house SCREAMING and dragging his back leg. I was sure he had gotten out and been struck by a car. Horrified, I dropped what I was doing and chased after him as he ran through the house dragging his leg and screaming. Well, when I caught up to him, I found he had sat on a post-it note, and it had stuck to his rump. Once I removed the evil thing that was chasing him, he settled right down. I laughed SO hard!

My friends would tell me how hideous SAM was, and ask how I could stand to touch him. I always thought he was cute. One night I was watching Jay Leno, and he had on the winners of the World's Ugliest Dog Contest. I laughed until I cried over these adorable and funny misfits and instantly realized that none of them held a candle to SAM! I found out where the contest is held and in a few months, SAM and I were off to just north of San Francisco. The papers described SAM's first win as a landslide victory of mythic proportion. The rest is history."

Like Sam's owner, God let's me in his house. Where most see me as without value, more trouble than I'm worth, God places value on me. When others don't want me around, God still lets me come to him. God even has the ability to use my flaws for His glory (sometimes).

My Savior looks at me as something to love (Galatians 2:20b). He looks at you that way, too, whether your personality and people skills is as annoying as mine, or you're the most talented, well loved person on the face of the planet.